Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Terrance Drew, delivered an impassioned call for climate justice for small island states at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, warning that the international community cannot ignore the existential threat facing vulnerable nations.
Addressing world leaders in New York on 27th September, Dr. Drew described the plight of small island developing states (SIDS) as “the anatomy of an injustice,” noting that those who contribute least to global emissions are suffering the harshest consequences.
“We are the frontline victims of a crisis not of our making. Rising seas, stronger hurricanes, deadly droughts — this is our reality. Yet we have contributed the least to the carbon overload destabilising our planet. This is the anatomy of an injustice,” Dr. Drew declared.
He urged industrialised nations to fulfil their financing commitments, calling for climate funds to be accessible, predictable, and directed to those most at risk. “We cannot adapt without resources. We cannot build resilience without financing. Justice requires that those who created the problem contribute to the solution,” he added.
Dr. Drew emphasised that for St. Kitts and Nevis and other small states, climate change is not an abstract debate but a daily struggle against existential threats to lives, economies, and sovereignty.
In recent years, prolonged droughts have left the soil so parched that even at depths of nearly half a metre, it remains dry, placing enormous strain on the island’s farmers and food supply. These conditions have also contributed to recurring water shortages, with residents experiencing interruptions to potable water supplies. Rising seas, coastal erosion, increasingly powerful hurricanes, and flooding continue to threaten the Federation’s tourism infrastructure, fisheries, and local communities.
In the face of these mounting challenges, the Terrance Dew-led Labour government has taken steps to build resilience and ensure that the country’s voice remains strong in the global climate debate. The passage of the Climate Change Bill in 2024 strengthened partnerships with regional climate bodies, providing the legislative backbone for future action. Through initiatives such as the Green Climate Fund’s Readiness Project, St. Kitts and Nevis has also enhanced its disaster management capacity, improved regulatory frameworks, and upgraded meteorological services to better prepare communities for severe weather events.
The Federation has further secured millions in climate financing for food security and adaptation projects, while advancing plans for climate-smart agriculture and a National Adaptation Plan to guide long-term resilience. New tools for drought forecasting and hazard mapping have been introduced to support farmers and households, while digital repositories of climate data and storm surge modelling systems are being established to strengthen public policy and early-warning capabilities.
These initiatives underscore that while St. Kitts and Nevis continues to press for climate justice on the international stage, it is also laying the groundwork at home for a sustainable and resilient future.
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